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Chapter 43
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Counterbalance Chapter 44
That was the crux of both their issues, in her opinion. His fear of losing his anchor and her fear of being alone. She'd been just seventeen when her parents died. Ever since then, she'd played it safe. So safe, she'd been ready to marry a guy she didn't love with her whole heart. And years later, she was about to go all-in with a man who owned her soul, but who may not love her for the right reasons. It wasn't fair to him for her to stay with him if he was another safe bet. "Peyton?" He stepped forward and stopped, concern and tension wrinkling his brow.It came to her, suddenly and like a blow, what they should do. He was going to flip out, but it was the right thing. She rubbed her forehead and focused on his chest. "I know its last minute, but I'm going to take off work next week. Use a few of my vacation days.""Okay," he hedged and crossed his arms. "Why? Do you need to pack up the apartment so soon?""No." God, her heart thumped so hard the room spun. "We need some distan
Counterbalance Chapter 45
By the end of the workday on Monday, Xavier had given Peyton all the space he was going to allow. She hadn't been joking when she'd said she was taking off this week. At his arrival in the office this morning, her schedule had been cleared. In preparation for tomorrow's magazine article release, she'd left instructions for the front desk not to patch through any press calls to his secretary.That was that. Nothing else. And he'd had to hear that little amount from Jackie.He pounded on Peyton's apartment door and waited with his clenched fists on his hips. Two days, and he was losing his mind. She hadn't answered one text or voicemail. He hadn't slept more than a handful of scattered hours, never mind having an appetite. When he received no response, he pounded again and yelled her name. He knew she was home. Her car was in the designated parking space. He'd checked. Yesterday and today."She's not here."He whirled to find Kate standing in the doorway to her apartment across the
Counterbalance Chapter 46
"Yes. I'm giving you a raise and promoting you to personal assistant for myself and Miss Smoke. I'll have HR hire for a secretarial position." They could use the extra hands and he'd been on Peyton to get an assistant. Some of her work could be delegated and, when she got back from wherever the hell she was, he planned to spend as much time with her as possible. He trusted Jackie. Plus, she was smart and efficient. She was too talented to waste answering phones. Problem solved.Her jaw dropped. "Um, thank you, sir."He nodded, and she went back to her desk up front. He glanced at Joseph and did a double-take at his smirk. "What?""You're all grown up now. My, they get big so fast." Joseph mock-sniffed and pretended to wipe a tear from his cheek.Xavier narrowed his eyes. "I'm not amused.""Okay, seriously." Joseph leaned forward. "Blondie asked you to evaluate. The way I see it? You're more than capable of handling yourself without her, which is all I think she wantedfor you to
Counterbalance Chapter 47
Peyton had a ten-and-a-half hour flight to France, five lonely nights in the city of love, and another ten-plus hour flight back to the States to think about nothing but Xavier Gaines.She'd broken her own rule and had read the magazine article while drinking an espresso at a café table. Daniel had quoted both of them about various topics from their discussion. But his own take and summary was what had thrown her for a loop.I fully expected to walk into my interview with this corporate giant and be met with crisp, concise answers and clipped disregard. Instead, I got a glimpse of a man who doesn't solely see opportunities to make money, but ways to enhance the compassion inside us all and force others to take a stand for what's right. It's apparent in the way his staff look and speak to him that there is respect and, perhaps, a little fear motivating them. One can't run an enterprise such as his without those elements. But under the spit and polish, I found something completely lack
Counterbalance Chapter 48
He smiled. "You wanted me to think about some things, and I have.""X, you don't" "Yes, I do. If only to assuage any doubts you have left." He pulled a deep breath and faced her. "Standing right over there is your family. Blood doesn't always play a part. They love you as much as you love them, and not out of obligation. You have never been an obligation to me, either." His throat worked a swallow. "I want to extend our family someday with our own kids. Yes, part of that is to give back what was taken from you, but the majority of the reason is because you deserve to get everything you want and someone like you, who has so much to offer, should be surrounded by as much family as possible. There is no better way for me to show you how much I love you than to have children."Oh God, this man. More tears pooled in her eyes, and she was going to dehydrate if he continued at this rate. Shaking, all she could do was stare at him and hope he understood her lack of response was due to th
Counterbalance Chapter 1
"Your last appointment is here, Mr. Gaines."Xavier glanced from his computer monitor to where his secretary's tinny voice emitted from his desk phone and hit speaker. "Wait five minutes and send her in. Thank you.""Yes, sir."Five minutes, and he'd finally have the meeting he'd been waiting weeks for since securing. Longer, if he accounted the past year when he'd last seen her at a charity function. He'd had to hold out for a break in her schedule to even get her to come in, and it had taken a lot of coaxing from his staff to accomplish that much.Anxious, he shoved from his desk and stood to face the wall of windows in his top floor high rise office in San Francisco's Financial District. Gaines Industries was among many Fortune 500 companies that occupied the clean, angular skyscrapers in the triangular area east of Kearny Street. Dusk was descending, turning the Bay in the distance pink and purple through a haze of fog. Unlike many metropolises where the fiscal wards went quiet
Counterbalance Chapter 2
They wound up at a pizza joint, of all places, per her suggestion, and a quick survey of the brick walls and vinyl booths proved he was out of his element. The delicious scent of garlic and red sauce reminded him he'd skipped lunch. "I'm a little overdressed for this venue."While inside the doorway, her gaze skimmed over him. Before he knew what she was up to, she'd stripped his coat, unknotted his tie, and had rolled the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows.She nodded, handing him back the jacket. "There."They claimed a booth and he let her order, then he glanced at her necklace once again. Having a focal point helped settle him, and he wondered where she'd gotten the charm. Perhaps from her deceased fiancé. He'd found out through the grapevine about Mark's suicide last year. Xavier had never met the man, but Mark had served with Peyton's brother, Brian, in Iraq. Mark's death had come just a few months after Brian was killed while serving. She'd been raised by her brother after th
Counterbalance Chapter 3
Desperately needing a caffeine boost, Peyton stopped at a vendor to grab a coffee on her three-block walk to Xavier's office. Thinking about his job offer had kept her awake all night and she was dragging this afternoon.She breathed in salty, damp air from the Bay and smiled as she passed others strolling by. The Financial District was alive with business people and tourists alike, and she enjoyed the buzz. Restaurants, shops, and skyscrapers blended together in a mishmash of unique. Sunshine filtered through a thin cloud cover, and she got a little more pep in her step. It was a gorgeous day and, despite leaving work early to meet with Xavier, she was free tonight. She had a date with Thor and her couch via Netflix. Maybe she'd make it a threesome by adding Ghirardelli. Though she'd been shocked by Xavier's offer, it couldn't have come at a better time. With Harrison announcing his senate bid next week, it was now or never to get out. She'd loved working for him and his wife, plus
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